Golf tee with level and depth indicators

ABSTRACT

A golf tee includes a stem defining a first end and a second end. The golf tee includes a ball receiving portion positioned on the second end of the stem. A level gauge is disposed in the ball receiving portion. The stem includes indicia representative of a depth of insertion of the first end into a surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a golf tee, and more particularly to a golf tee having a level gauge and a depth insertion gauge.

BACKGROUND

The sport of golf involves the use of a club to swing at and strike a stationary ball, thereby causing the ball to travel in a desired direction. Typically, a golf ball is about 1.68 inches in diameter. An object of the game of golf is to cause the ball to enter into a hole located at a predetermined distance from a starting point, in the fewest possible number of strokes. The starting point is sometimes referred to as a teeing ground or tee box. In the teeing ground, each player sequentially places the ball on a tee, peg or the like to elevate the ball relative to a surface of the teeing ground. Once the ball is placed on the tee, a player strikes the ball with the club to drive the ball away from the teeing ground in an effort to reach the hole in the fewest possible number of strokes.

SUMMARY

According to aspects disclosed herein, there is provided a golf tee including a stem defining a first end and a second end. The golf tee includes a ball receiving portion positioned on the second end of the stem for removably holding a ball thereon. A level gauge is disposed in the ball receiving portion. The level gauge is operable to determine whether or not the stem is plumb. The stem includes indicia representative of a depth of insertion of the first end into a playing surface of a golf course. For example, the indicia can comprise a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the stem and/or grooves formed in the stem.

In one embodiment, the level gauge and the ball receiving portion cooperate to define a concave surface for removably holding the ball thereon. The concave surface can have a radius of curvature from about 0.7 inches to about 0.9 inches.

The level gauge can include an inside surface defining a cavity. A first fluid and an indicator are disposed in the cavity. For example, the first fluid can be a fluorescent liquid. In addition, the indicator can be a second fluid having a density less than that of the first fluid.

In one embodiment, the level gauge is manufactured from a transparent or translucent material and/or an elastomeric material. In addition, the level gauge can be press-fit in a pocket defined by an interior surface of the ball receiving portion and/or secured by an adhesive to the interior surface.

The golf tee can include a level gauge that is formed integral with the golf tee. The level gauge can include an inside surface defining a cavity and at least one passage extending from an outside surface of the golf tee into the cavity. The passages can be used to introduce the first liquid and/or the indicator into the cavity.

The golf tee can be manufactured in a substantially hollow form in which the level gauge includes a cavity defined by an inside surface of the ball receiving portion and an inside surface of the stem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a golf tee of the present invention with a top portion of the golf tee illustrated in a cross sectional view;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the top portion of the golf tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is front cross sectional view of a level gauge shown removed from the golf tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a top portion of one embodiment of a golf tee;

FIG. 6 is front cross sectional view of a level gauge shown removed from the golf tee of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a top portion of another embodiment of a golf tee; and

FIG. 8 is a front cross sectional view of a hollow golf tee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf tee is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The golf tee 10 defines a stem portion 12 having a ball receiving portion 14 formed on one end thereof. The ball receiving portion 14 is configured to removably hold a ball 15 having a radius R1, thereon. An opposing end 16 of the stem portion 12 has a tapered section 18 to facilitate insertion into a playing surface 20 of a golf course. The stem portion 12 includes a plurality of indicia 22 representative of a depth of insertion of the stem portion into the playing surface 20. In addition, the ball receiving portion 14 includes a level gauge 24 disposed therein, as described further below. The level gauge 24 defines a concave surface 24R which cooperates with a concave surface 14R of the ball receiving portion 14 to removably hold the ball 15 thereon. The level gauge 24 is operable to indicate whether or not the stem portion 12 is substantially plumb (i.e., plumbness). In one embodiment, the golf tee is manufactured from wood, plastic or a combination thereof.

The concave surfaces 14R and 24R have a radius of curvature R2. The magnitude of the radius R2 is from about ten percent less than the radius R1 to about ten percent greater than the radius R1. In one embodiment, the radius R2 is from about 0.7 inches to about 0.9 inches. While the radius of curvature R2 is described as being about ten percent less than or greater than the radius R1 or from about 0.7 to about 0.9 inches, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as other magnitudes of R2 can also be employed including but not limited to those greater than or less than ten percent of R1, greater than 0.9 inches and/or less than 0.7 inches.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the level gauge 24 includes an inside surface 24A which defines a cavity 26. A first fluid 28 (e.g., a fluorescent liquid) and an indicator 30 are contained in the cavity 26. In one embodiment, the indicator 30 is a second fluid (e.g., an air bubble) having a density less than a density of the first fluid 28. In one embodiment, the indicator 30 is a solid (e.g., a closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam ball such as a Styrofoam® ball) having a density less than the density of the first fluid 28.

The inside surface 24A defines an inwardly curved portion 24B which curves away from the concave surface 24R. The level gauge 24 defines a window 32 manufactured from a transparent or translucent material configured to allow viewing of the indictor 30 and the first fluid 28 from a position external to the golf tee 10. For example, all or a portion of the level gauge 24 can be manufactured from the transparent or translucent material such that the window 32 is formed integral with the level gauge 24. In one embodiment, the level gauge 24 includes an opening defined therein and in which the window 32 is secured.

The window 32 includes leveling indicia 34 disposed thereon. In one embodiment, the leveling indicia 34 is a pair of circles 34A and 34B marked and/or formed (e.g., grooves) concentrically on the concave surface 24R. When the golf tee 10 is oriented with the ball receiving portion 14 positioned above the stem 12 and the stem is substantially plumb, the indicator 30 is positioned on the curved portion 24B of the inside surface 24A and the centered in the leveling indicia 34.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the level gauge 24 has a generally tee-shaped cross section and includes a lateral surface 36 located circumferentially around a peripheral portion of the level gauge. The lateral surface 36 has a diameter D1. The level gauge 24 also includes an annular lobe 38 extending outwardly from a portion of the lateral surface 36 to an outermost portion 38P of the lobe and defining a shoulder 40 extending therebewteen. The lobe 38 defines a diameter D2 at the outermost portion 38P. The level gauge 24 is manufactured from a resilient material such as but not limited to a clear, transparent or translucent elastomeric polymer. The receiving portion 14 includes an inwardly facing lateral surface 42 having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter D1. A portion of the lateral surface 42 extends radially outward into the receiving portion 14 forming a generally tee-shaped pocket 44 complementary to the tee-shaped configuration of the level gauge 24. The pocket 44 is defined by an interior surface 45 configured complementary to that of the lobe 38. The interior surface 45 includes a lip 48 extending between the lateral surface 42 and an outermost portion 46 of the pocket 44. The pocket 44 has a diameter at the outermost portion 46 which is substantially equal to the diameter D2. The level gauge 24 is press-fit in the pocket 44 such that the level gauge 24 is secured in the pocket 44 with the shoulder 40 engaged with the lip 48. The lateral surface 36 of the level gauge 24 is engaged with the lateral surface 42 of the receiving portion thereby defining a seam 39. During assembly, the lobe 38 is compressed inwardly to a diameter D1 so that the lobe can fit through an opening 43 defined by the lateral surface 42 and travel past the shoulder 40. In an installed state, the lobe 38 is expanded to a relaxed position in the pocket 44 thereby securing the level gauge 24 in the pocket with the shoulder 40 engaged with the lip 48. In one embodiment, an adhesive is also used to secure the level gauge 24 to the interior surface 45, in the pocket 44.

The golf tee of FIGS. 5 and 6 is similar to the golf tee 10 of FIGS. 1-4. Thus like elements have been assigned like reference numbers preceded by the numeral 1. The golf tee 110 includes a receiving portion 114 having a pocket 144 defined by first surface 142 and a second surface 150. The pocket 144 has a generally truncated conical shape. The level gauge 124 includes an inside surface 124A, an inwardly curved portion 124B and a cavity 126, similar to that described above for the level gauge 24. A first fluid 128 and an indicator 130 are contained in the cavity 126. An outside surface 152 of the level gauge 124 has a truncated conical shape complimentary to that of the pocket 144. The level gauge 124 is secured in the pocket 144 by adhering the outside surface 152 of the level gauge to the first and second surfaces 142 and 150, with a suitable adhesive, such as but not limited to epoxy. The level gauge 124 can be manufactured from any suitable material including hard, transparent, translucent or elastomeric plastics. While the level gauge 124 and the pocket 144 are shown and described as having a truncated conical cross section, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other configurations can be employed including but not limited to cylindrical, hemispherical and cubical shaped level gauges and pockets.

The golf tee of FIG. 7 is similar to the golf tee 10 of FIGS. 1-4. Thus like elements have been assigned like reference numbers preceded by the numeral 2. The golf tee 210 includes a receiving portion 214 manufactured from a suitable material such as but not limited to plastic, a transparent material and/or translucent material. The golf tee 210 includes a level gauge 224 formed integrally therein (e.g., a level gauge 224 formed integral with the receiving end 214). The level gauge 224 includes a cavity 226 defined by an inside surface 224A of the receiving portion 214. The inside surface 224A includes an inwardly curved portion 224B. A first fluid 228 and an indicator 230 are contained in the cavity 226. In addition, two passages 260 and 266 extend from an outside surface 262 of the golf tee 210 (e.g., an outside surface of the receiving portion 214) into the cavity 226. A seal, for example, a plug 264 is disposed in each of the passages 260 and 266. The passages 262 and/or 266 are operable to introduce the first fluid 228 and the indicator 230 into the cavity 226. The passages 260 and/or 266 are also operable to vent the cavity 226 when introducing the first fluid 228 into the cavity 226. The plugs 264 are operable to seal the passages 260 and 266 to retain the first fluid 228 and the indicator 230 in the cavity 226.

The golf tee of FIG. 8 is similar to the golf tee 10 of FIGS. 1-4. Thus like elements have been assigned like reference numbers preceded by the numeral 3. The golf tee 310 is generally hollow and is manufactured from a suitable material such as but not limited to plastic, a transparent material or translucent material. In one embodiment, the golf tee is manufactured from a material provided in a tubular form. The golf tee 310 includes a level gauge 324 formed integrally therein (e.g., a level gauge 324 formed integral with the ball receiving end 314). The level gauge 324 includes a cavity 326 defined by an inside surface 324A of the receiving portion 314 and an inside surface 324C of the stem 312. The inside surface 324A includes an inwardly curved portion 324B. A first fluid 328 and an indicator 330 are contained in the cavity 326. The tapered section 318 includes a joint 370. During assembly, the joint 370 is open to allow the first fluid 328 and the indicator 330 to be introduced into the cavity 326. The joint 370 is configured to be sealed (e.g., with adhesive or by melting and subsequently solidifying the joint 370) to retain the first fluid 328 and the indicator 330 in the cavity 326.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the indicia 22 are circumferential lines disposed on the stem portion 12 to indicate the depth of insertion of the golf tee 10 into the playing surface 20. In one embodiment, the lines are marked on the stem 12 in a color different than the stem. In one embodiment, the indicia 22 are grooves formed in and/or protrusions extending outwardly from the stem 12. In one embodiment, the indicia 22 includes numbers and/or letters marked on the stem 12. The protrusions and grooves can be of any size or shape suitable for providing indicia of the depth of insertion. For example, individual protrusions and grooves can have different sizes and configurations depending on their respective position on the stem portion 12. In one embodiment, the indicia 22 consists of four equally spaced marks, lines, grooves or protrusions.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A golf tee comprising: a stem defining a first end; a ball receiving portion positioned on a second end of the stem; a level gauge disposed in the ball receiving portion; and wherein the stem comprises indicia representative of a depth of insertion of the first end into a surface.
 2. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the level gauge and the ball receiving portion cooperate to define a concave surface.
 3. The golf tee of claim 2, wherein the concave surface has a radius of curvature from about 0.7 inches to about 0.9 inches.
 4. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the level gauge includes an inside surface defining a cavity which contains a first fluid and an indicator disposed in the cavity.
 5. The golf tee of claim 4, wherein the first fluid comprises a fluorescent liquid.
 6. The golf tee of claim 4, wherein the indicator comprises a second fluid having a density less than that of the first fluid.
 7. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the level gauge is manufactured from a transparent or translucent material.
 8. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the level gauge is manufactured from an elastomeric material.
 9. The golf tee of claim 8, wherein the level gauge is press-fit in a pocket defined by an interior surface of the ball receiving portion.
 10. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the level gauge is secured in a pocket defined by an interior surface of the ball receiving portion by an adhesive.
 11. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the level gauge is integral with the golf tee.
 12. The golf tee of claim 11, wherein the level gauge includes an inside surface defining a cavity and at least one passage extending from an outside surface of the golf tee into the cavity.
 13. The golf tee of claim 11, wherein the golf tee is substantially hollow and the level gauge includes a cavity defined by an inside surface of the ball receiving portion and an inside surface of the stem.
 14. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprise at least one of plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the stem and grooves formed in the stem.
 15. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the level gauge is operable to determine plumbness of the stem. 